Evolv security scanners now at DLR? - still just testing :(

[TP2000]

The fact that this position exists and the arrival experience at the Anaheim resort is anywhere near its current state is utterly amazing. What on EARTH does that person DO?

He should take a Starbucks and wander out into the Esplanade on a Saturday morning. Just once. It's obvious he's never done that.

To be fair to him, we only know he exists because he recently cut the ribbon on a reused C Ticket attraction.

Jump to the 0:42 mark in this video for the hilarious introduction of this vaunted executive leader!

 

[Sailor310]

I was there Thursday. They aren't using them. (The security gates at Toy Story parking)

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

I will care about what the tents look like AFTER they get these scanners into the parking locations! I absolutely hate people pawing through my stuff - it's so unsanitary - no matter how nice the majority of security folks are.

I've dealt with a few stinkers, but for the most part, as much as I hate the process, the security folks are super nice and make the start of my day pretty magical with their fun comments on whatever I'm wearing or whatever Disney-themed bag I'm using that day. (Because yes, I dress like the nerd that I am. lol)

But I still hate them touching my stuff, poking through my wallet, rolling their flashlights all around my bag after they've just done the same in hundreds of other bags. Just yuck.

I'll walk through 12 unthemed scanners and tents to not have my stuff touched.

 

[TP2000]

I will care about what the tents look like AFTER they get these scanners into the parking locations! I absolutely hate people pawing through my stuff - it's so unsanitary - no matter how nice the majority of security folks are.

I've dealt with a few stinkers, but for the most part, as much as I hate the process, the security folks are super nice and make the start of my day pretty magical with their fun comments on whatever I'm wearing or whatever Disney-themed bag I'm using that day. (Because yes, I dress like the nerd that I am. lol)

But I still hate them touching my stuff, poking through my wallet, rolling their flashlights all around my bag after they've just done the same in hundreds of other bags. Just yuck.

I'll walk through 12 unthemed scanners and tents to not have my stuff touched.

I agree. Although since I rarely go to Disneyland with anything more than a wallet and my iPhone, I've never had to deal with some security kid rifling through my stuff. I only have to deal with the long lines and badly managed crowds after I exit my Uber.

But still, I would see them poke and prod through the diaper bag carried by some Utah housewife ahead of me in line and think "Is that really neccessary?"

It's the epitome of Security Theater, and it's rather useless.

If I'm some sort of psycho terrorist, all I'd need to do is get a job at Disneyland as a popcorn salesman or ride operator, and it would be easy to sneak in any number of objects or products (even in phases, or over a matter of weeks) that could do serious harm to a great number of people. I've often thought the weakest security link is the revolving door of unskilled labor they use to staff the parks with. They are always hiring, and the standards they use for hiring are constantly lowering.

Search jobs at Disneyland Resort - California

Search jobs at Disneyland Resort - California

parksjobs.disneycareers.com

But trying to sneak in a way to kill many people in a housewive's diaper bag? That's too obvious.

 

[smooch]

It's the epitome of Security Theater, and it's rather useless.

Yeah the security is honestly useless, I'm sure at some point they've stopped people from bringing in genuinely harmful things but 99% of the time it's wasted time searching through everyone's bag just to give the illusion of safety.

If I'm some sort of psycho terrorist, all I'd need to do is get a job at Disneyland as a popcorn salesman or ride operator, and it would be easy to sneak in any number of objects or products (even in phases, or over a matter of weeks) that could do serious harm to a great number of people. I've often thought the weakest security link is the revolving door of unskilled labor they use to staff the parks with. They are always hiring, and the standards they use for hiring are constantly lowering.

Well, TP, you might be on a watch list after sharing that tactic

 

[cmwade77]

The OC Fair used them, and I presume are using them at the Pacific Amphitheater.

HersheyPark also was using them this Summer.

Yes and the OC Fair used them properly, allowing strollers and wheelchairs to roll straight on through unlike WDW where they are being pulled off to the side for unknown reasons.

The machines are quite capable of scanning those using strollers and wheelchairs, so there really isn't any reason to pull them to the side.

 

[TP2000]

Yeah the security is honestly useless, I'm sure at some point they've stopped people from bringing in genuinely harmful things but 99% of the time it's wasted time searching through everyone's bag just to give the illusion of safety.

Well, TP, you might be on a watch list after sharing that tactic

It wouldn't be the first time I said that online. It's been a concern of mine for at least 15 years, and I've said so on multiple websites.

It's not a secret. It's not new information. To get anything smuggled into Disneyland, you just have to be a CM for at least 60 days.

And now they'll hire literally anyone. Tatted up bearded ladies are fine now. No problem. Here's your ID.

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

And sadly as I found out yesterday when I walked the long way round to DTD to try the new scanners - they're already gone. It was just a test and they were back to regular bag check where they had to touch everything in my bag.

Yes, that's my backup battery for my phone. Did you have to pick it up, pull it out of my bag and turn it all around with both your hands when I had it already facing up so you could see the charging cord was connected to the USB ports on it? No. No, you did not.

Ugh.

(Heard they were also testing the new scanners at the parking structure but I didn't see them there.)

 

[1HAPPYGHOSTHOST]

He should take a Starbucks and wander out into the Esplanade on a Saturday morning. Just once. It's obvious he's never done that.

To be fair to him, we only know he exists because he recently cut the ribbon on a reused C Ticket attraction.

Jump to the 0:42 mark in this video for the hilarious introduction of this vaunted executive leader!

He said he was 'so excited'. Someone should tell him to tell that to his facelift then.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

there's overwhelming documented evidence that Disneyland / World has been declining.

At least at WDW we have a great entrance experience. It's been far superior to DL's ever since MBs came out, and now all of the entry points have Evolv scanners, and there are far more of them than at DL, and Disney built dedicated areas to security for WDW so we do not have tents.

It was an absolute breeze getting into MK. Walked through the scanner, walked up to the gate, scanned in, entered.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I absolutely agree. Love magic bands. For some reason this summer I always managed to set off the evolv scanners but thats OK, I appreciate them doing something to make entry easier.

Were you carrying a glasses case by any chance?

 

[PiratesMansion]

At least at WDW we have a great entrance experience. It's been far superior to DL's ever since MBs came out, and now all of the entry points have Evolv scanners, and there are far more of them than at DL, and Disney built dedicated areas to security for WDW so we do not have tents.

It was an absolute breeze getting into MK. Walked through the scanner, walked up to the gate, scanned in, entered.

Not wrong in the slightest.

Every part of the arrival experience-from the moment you arrive on property, park your car, go through security, and enter the park-is far superior at Walt Disney World. That's one area where WDW is miles ahead and DLR doesn't seem remotely interested in any of it.

 

[TP2000]

Not wrong in the slightest.

Every part of the arrival experience-from the moment you arrive on property, park your car, go through security, and enter the park-is far superior at Walt Disney World. That's one area where WDW is miles ahead and DLR doesn't seem remotely interested in any of it.

WDW is the abberation there. No other Disney theme park complex on the planet is as insulated as WDW. The rest are like Disneyland; a compact two-park system with immediate access off of public streets and roadways, many with directly adjacent mass transit stations (subways, commuter rail) and all with massive parking structures.

And yet... Tokyo Disneyland does their security screening and entire "guest arrival experience" lightyears better than Anaheim. Especially for their Disneyland park, it's almost a duplicate setup to Anaheim from the security screening tents to the ticket booths to the turnstiles, in almost the exact amount of space. And yet Tokyo CM's perform that operation flawlessly to huge crowds, geting 'em in fast with a smile. DisneySea has a different entry setup with a 90 degree turn, but is still flawless operationally.

Here's Tokyo's first version of a Security Screening area right in front of Disneyland they had after 9/11. This was their "cheap and quick" version they built in the 2000's.

But now that security screening and different types of digital park tickets are with us for good, Tokyo rebuilt their screening/entrance complex yet again. The new version in the 2020's is far grander and better looking than the original post 9/11.

Notice, of course, all the white-gloved Security CM's waving. Because... Japan.

The Security shift supervisor standing in the middle is approved to use the more prestigious double-hand wave.

It's not just the logistics and crowd control (or lack thereof) or obvious lack of capacity or care in Anaheim, it's the aesthetics. These are the most expensive theme parks on the planet to visit. Especially Anaheim, which is the priciest. Disney used to care about this kind of stuff; the look, the feel, the graciousness and elegance of their facilities. TDA clearly does not. Yet the joke is probably on us stupid Americans for continuing to pay the high ticket prices to wait on a shadeless cement expanse before going through a "temporary" setup that has been in use for over 20 years.

To add insult to injury, ponder this inconvenient truth the next time you are dealing with Anaheim's "Guest Arrival Experience".

2021 Tokyo Disneyland 1 Day-1 Park Adult Weekend Ticket = $74 to $79 (depending on which weekend this fall)
2021 Disneyland USA 1 Day- 1 Park Adult Weekend Ticket = $124 to $154 (depending on which weekend this fall)

 

[MagicWDI]

Not wrong in the slightest.

Every part of the arrival experience-from the moment you arrive on property, park your car, go through security, and enter the park-is far superior at Walt Disney World. That's one area where WDW is miles ahead and DLR doesn't seem remotely interested in any of it.

TDA is still in the middle of trying to push for local rezoning to enable them to move forward on a massive investment into the DLR, including new security screening zones and entry points on the east and west sides of the resort. There is no point in investing in anything more than temporary at this point. If the evolve scanners come out, they too will be temporarily placed. Semi-permanent structures at the most. The only security location that is fully finished is at the Mickey & Friends and Pixar Pals parking structures. I would assume this is where the evolve scanners could be permanently placed.

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

The only security location that is fully finished is at the Mickey & Friends and Pixar Pals parking structures. I would assume this is where the evolve scanners could be permanently placed.

I wish.

Of course, I also wish for trams to return and I ain't holding my breath for those either.

But it's all part of that "magical" arrival experience, right?

 

[MagicWDI]

I wish.

Of course, I also wish for trams to return and I ain't holding my breath for those either.

But it's all part of that "magical" arrival experience, right?

It's a good sign we saw some testing at all. It shows us they are still interested, at the very least just plugging it in to see if the dang thing still works. That still shows us they are coming if their testing is successful. But we know Disney isn't in any hurry on spending. I'm still going to keep my expectations low on timing. I would predict a trickle approach on this, and everything else that doesn't have a quick return on investment. Be ready to unzip your backpack pockets.

 

[TP2000]

TDA is still in the middle of trying to push for local rezoning to enable them to move forward on a massive investment into the DLR, including new security screening zones and entry points on the east and west sides of the resort.

Yeah, a lot of us here were around in 2016 when the Eastern Gateway was officially announced by TDA. That was 15 years after 9/11 and a lot of "temporary" tents and plastic tables set up around the resort.

Now it's 2021. The Eastern Gateway was canned in 2017 after Michael Colglazier destroyed the long relationship with the City of Anaheim. It's 20 years now since 9/11 and two decades of "temporary". As seen above, in that same time Tokyo has gone through two different versions of security screening entrance facilities; one very lavish by Anaheim standards, and one even more lavish that could never be duplicated by any American park ever.

There is no point in investing in anything more than temporary at this point.

I'm betting a lot of the folks that say that were in Kindergarten on the morning of Tuesday, September 11th, 2001. And yet... 20 years later there's no point in investing in anything more than temporary?

The only security location that is fully finished is at the Mickey & Friends and Pixar Pals parking structures. I would assume this is where the evolve scanners could be permanently placed.

So that security screening facility is as good as it's going to get in Anaheim?
Cheap, serviceable, basic, like a very nice Greyhound bus depot but without the urine smell.

How sad that this is how low Anaheim's standards of hospitality and showmanship have fallen in this age of Billion dollar profits.

Meanwhile, in Tokyo...

 

[DrAlice]

Cheap, serviceable, basic, like a very nice Greyhound bus depot but without the urine smell.

Unless you have to pass the bus stop on Harbor Blvd. on your way in. But I digress.....

 

[TP2000]

Unless you have to pass the bus stop on Harbor Blvd. on your way in. But I digress.....

Welcome to California! You have been immersed in our Guest Arrival Experience!

 

[SuddenStorm]

Disneyland's guest arrival situation really is embarrassing, isn't it?

A service area that's barely themed. A ridiculously long walk on an asphalt road to start the day. I'm just surprised they haven't stationed an ice cream cart on the tram route yet with Mickey bars and water.

The other entry areas rely on temporary tents and folding tables, and on the Harbor side the security line often spills into the bus areas during peak times.

Then, entry to the park takes longer then it should since they have to photograph everyone with a new ticket. When everyone could just photograph themselves since everyone has a phone and the Disneyland app to save time.

It's interesting to see how a company that gained a reputation for exemplary service can fall so short in so many ways.